Draft rigging



March 1934.

DRAFT RIGGING Filed July 1928 4 & mung 1W g F. s. sucKow 1,952,479 7patented Mar. 27 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFT RIGGINGApplication July 24, 1928, Serial No. 295,023

22 Claims.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and more particularly toa'coupler with an articulated shank of such dimensions that it may beused interchangeably with a coupler having a standard rigid shank.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is toprovide a swivel butt coupler adapted to receive a horizontal draft keyfor connection with a yoke and formed with a butt portion so articulatedthat it permits swivelling or horizontal angling of the coupler withrespect to the key and associated rigging upon the application of bothdraft and buffing forces.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coupler, the shank ofwhich is recessed adjacent the butt to receivea draft key, said buttbeing curved both at the recessed portion and on its rear face, a keypiece being received in the recessed portion and adapted to engage therear edge of the key and the curved portion of the coupler stemrearwardly thereof, and a butt member engaging the rear curved face ofthe coupler butt, means being provided for interlocking said key pieceand butt member whereby the parts will remain assembled even when thecoupler is removed from the associated draft rigging.

A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a. swivel butt couplerwhich is interchangeable with a standard rigid shank coupler and slottedfor receiving a horizontal connecting key, swiveling of said couplerbeing provided for by forming the butt of the coupler shank as a curvedcolumn or hearing post portion connecting the parts of the shank aboveand below the key slot, a key piece being mounted on the key and formedwith a rearwardly opening pocket engaging the column portion of thecoupler butt for horizontal angling therewith, a butt member notched toreceive the rearwardly. extending portions ofthe key piece and curvedfor swiveling engagement with the curved butt or column portion of thecoupler, and rivets or the like extending through the butt member andthe rearwardly extending portions from the key piece for interlockingsaid parts together and holding them in assembled relation whilepermitting angling therebetween under the influence of both draft andbuffing forces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement and construction of the various parts will become ap parentas the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof isdefined by the appended claims:

I .Figure lis a fragmentary plan 'of draft rigging embodying myinvention, the portions of the yoke shown being illustrated inhorizontal section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of one embodiment of my coupleron the line 2- 2 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the butt portion of the couplerstem shown in Figures 2 and 3, the butt member having been removed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 ofFigure 3 of the coupler stem only, the key piece and butt member havingbeen removed.

Figure 6 is a rear elevationalview of the coupler stem shown in Figures2 and 3. V

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the butt member separated fromthe coupler and key piece.

Figure 8-is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showinganother embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, I have shown the stem 1 of a coupler, the rearpor: tion of which is provided with a slot or recess 2 receiving ahorizontal draft key 3 for connection with a yoke 4. Although the yokein the present embodiment is illustrated as of the horizontal type I donot wish to be limited to this showing which is merely illustrative, theclaims defining the scope of the invention.

Engaging the butt of the coupler stem 1 is a front follower 5 which isheld in place with respect to the yoke 4 by means of a horizontal key 6.As is customary, the keys 3 and 6 are received in slots in theassociated side sills and cheek plates, not shown, and the rear face ofthe follower 5 engages cushioning mechanism, not shown, as will beunderstood.

The rear portion of the slot 2 in the coupler stem is enlarged, asindicated at '7, to receive a'key piece 8, which key piece is formedwith forward 1y extending flanges 9 embracing therear edge of the key 3.The rear portion of the key piece 8 is formed with a concave bearingnotch 10 and the sides 11 defining said notch are extended rearwardly topoints beyond the rear end of the coupler stem proper for reasons to behereinafter explained.

In order that the key piece may properly angle with respect to thecoupler stem, that portion of the stem extending from above to below theslot or recess2 is formed as a curved bearing post or trunnion 12, theforward portion of which and the curved bearing surface 9 on the keypiece being cooperatively curved for permitting proper swivelingtherebetween. The forward edges of the flanges 9 on the key piece areco-axially curved, as indicated at 13, with respect to the forwardportion of the post 12 on the coupler, when assembled therewith, or thecurved portion 10 on said key piece .for permittingproper swivelingbetween said coupler and key piece.

Engaging the rear curved portion of the post or journal portion 12 ofthe coupler stem is a butt member 14 with a forwardly opening curvedbearing pocket 15 receiving the post or butt portion of the coupler stemproper for swiveling movement therewith and forwardly extending anddiverging arm portions 16 embracing the butt of the coupler stem propertherebetween. The butt member is formed with notches 17 in either sidethereof receiving the rearwardly extending arms 11 from the key piece 8f r interlocking connection therewith. Said arms 11 are preferablyformed with notches 18 and the arms 16 on the butt member 14 aredesirably formed with registering apertures 19 for receiving connectingmeans 20. Said connecting means desirably take the form of verticalrivets, the heads of which are counter-sunk, as indicated at 21, andsuflicient clearance is provided between the intermediate portions ofsaid rivets or the kc and the notches 18 in the key piece so that anormal or desired amount of horizontal angling or swiveling between theparts is permitted.

Although the front and rear surfaces of the bearing post 12 on thecoupler stem may be coaxial as shown in Fig. 8, I have in Figs. 1, 2 and5 shown these surfaces not exactly co-axial but with the axis of onesurface between the other surface and its axis whereby slightly greaterradii of curvature are provided without interfering with the freeswiveling of the coupler within the necessary limits. It will beunderstood that the slots 18 in the key piece 8 provide sufficientclearance to allow the necessary motion between the key piece and buttmember upon swiveling or angling of the coupler and the slot 2 providessufficient clearance with respect to the key 3 for that purpose.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen that 'I have devised aswivel butt coupler in which the stem of the coupler assembly is ofdimensions corresponding with those of astandard rigid shank coupler sothat said coupler may be used interchangeably with such rigid coupler.The butt of my coupler shank is recessed to receive a key piece and thiskey piece, on draft, bears against the column or post which connects theupper and lower portions of the shank or stem proper. After the keypiece has been entered a butt member is applied to engage the rearsurface of the column or post of the coupler shank and two rivets, pinsor other suitable connecting means are applied vertically and engage thekey piece and butt member, forming in effect a unitary coupler shank.Upon the application of draft forces said forces are transmitted fromthe shank to the key piece and key. Under buff, suchforces aretransmitted from the shank through the butt member to the frontfollower, in the embodiment illustrated. Al though my invention is shownas used with a horizontal yoke and key supported front follower, I donot Wish to be limited to such merely illustrative arrangement, thescope of the invention being defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a

coupler with a key slot adjacent the rear portion of the stem thereof,said rear portion being formed as a curved bearing post rearwardly ofsaid slot, a yoke, a key extending through the slot in the coupler forconnecting said coupler and yoke, a key piece engaging the rear edge ofthe key and formed with a rearwardly opening bearing notchcorrespondingly curved and engaging the post portion of the coupler anda butt member formed with a forwardly opening correspondingly curvedbearing notch engaging the rear surface of the post portion of thecoupier, portions of said key piece and butt member overlapping, andmeans intersecting said overlapping portions and connecting said keypiece and butt member.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler with a curvedbutt portion and a slot adjacent said butt portion for receiving ahorizontal draft key, the rearward portion of said slot terminating atthe curved butt portion of the coupler so that a bearing post is formedbetween the upper and lower portions of the coupler stem above and belowsaid slot, a yoke, a key connecting said coupler and yoke, and a keypiece formed with forwardly extending portions above and below said keyand rearwardly extending portions on either side of the post portion ofthe coupler butt, said key piece being formed with a correspondinglycurved bearing portion engaging the post portion of the coupler butt forpermitting angling therebetween, a butt member engaging the rear portionof the coupler post for angling therebetween on bufi, said butt memberbeing notched for receiving the rearwardly extending portions from thekey piece, and means intersecting said portions and the butt member-forholding them in assembled relation while permitting anglingtherebetween.

.3. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler with .agenerally cylindrical post portion forming a butt, a yoke, a keyconnecting said coupler and yoke, a key piece engaging the rear edge ofthe key .and the forward portion of the post on the coupler for anglingtherewith, and a butt member engaging the rear portion of the post forangling therewith under the action of buffing forces, .said key pieceand butt member being connected by means extending through adjacentportions thereof.

4. A coupler with a stem slotted for receiving a key for connection withan associated yoke, a generally cylindrical bearing post connectingthose portions of the stem rearwardly of the slot, a key piece adaptedfor engagement with the rear edge of an associated key and presenting arearwardly opening curved bearing notch for engagement with the bearingportion of the coupler, and a butt member formed with a forwardlyopening curved portion for engagement with the bearing portion of thecoupler,

said key piece and butt member having normally overlapping portionsadapted for connection exterior of said stem.

5. A coupler with a key slot in the stem there-' of and a curved bearingpost at the rearniost end thereof, a key piece formed with a rearwardlyopening bearing notch correspondingly curved and engaging the postportion of the coupler and a butt member formed with a forwardly openingcorrespondingly curved bearing notch engaging the rear surface of thepost portion of the coupler, portions of said .key piece-and butt memberoverlapping and means engaging said overlapping portions and connectingsaid key piece and butt member.

6. A coupler with a curved butt portion and a slot adjacent said buttportion for receiving a horizontal draft key, the rearward portion ofsaid slot terminating at the curved butt portion of the coupler so thata bearing post is formed between the upper and lower portions of thecoupler stem above and below said slot, a key piece formed withforwardly extending portions above and-below said key and rearwardlyextending portions on either side of the post portions of the couplerbutt, said key piece being formed with a correspondinglycurved bearingportion engaging the post portion of the coupler butt for permittingangling therebetween, a butt member engaging the rear portion of thecoupler post for angling therebe tween on buff, said butt member beingnotched for receiving the rearwardly extending portions from the keypiece, and means intersecting said portions and the butt member forholding them in asesmbled relation while permitting anglingtherebetween.

'7. A coupler with a substantially cylindrical post portion forming abutt, a key piece engag; ing the forward part of the post portion on thecoupler for angling therewith on draft, and a butt member engaging therear portion of the post for angling therewith under the action ofbuffing forces, said key piece and butt member being connected to eachother in embracing relationship with said post.

8. A coupler stem comprising a member having a curved end wall, a memberadapted to engage said wall, means for pivotally connecting saidmembers, a key slot in the first named member, and a block positioned insaid key slot and adapted to engage an associated key, said block beingadapted to engage the second named member when the parts are inassembled position.

9. A coupler stem comprising a pair of interconnected members, one ofwhich is provided with a key slot, and a block seated in said key slotand adapted to engage an associated key, said block being adapted toengage the other of said members and held from movement with respectthereto.

10. A car coupler involving a shank member having a curved rear end anda curved interior surface concentric with said end, a bearing blockhaving a curved forward face corresponding to and engaging the curvedend of the shank member and having a rear face adapted to engage thefollower of a draft gear, a key seat member having a curved rear surfacecorresponding to and engaging the curved interior surface of the shankmember, and means extending between and engaging said bearing block andkey seat member for retaining said block and seat member in assembledrelation to said shank member.

11. A car coupler involving a shank portion having a rear end wall and atransversely extending slot in advance thereof, said rear wall havingconcentric curved rear and forward surfaces, a bearing block memberhaving a curved forward face corresponding to and engaging the curvedrear face of said wall, a key seat member positioned in said slot andhaving a curved rear surface corresponding to and engaging the curvedforward surface of said wall, and means extending from one side of saidwall to the other for connecting said block member to said key seat 1member to thereby retain said members in assembled relation to saidshank portion of the coupler.

12. A car coupler involving a shank portion having a rear end wallformed with concentric curved rear and forward surfaces, said shankportion being provided with a slot in advance of said wall, a bearingblock having a curved forward face corresponding to and engaging thecurved rear surface of said wall, a key seat member positioned in saidslot and having a curved rear surface corresponding to and engaging thecurved forward surface of said wall. and means constituting a unitarypart of the car coupler and extending between said block and key seatmember for retaining them in assembled relation to said shank portion ofthe coupler, said shank portion rearwardly of said key seat member beingformed to receive said means.

13. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided with a transverse opening having a concave front wall,the rear wall of said opening being defined by a section formed integralwith said shank and being of pin-like form; of a butt block extendinginto said opening of the coupler shank and having a front bearingsurface engaging said concave front wall, said block having a rearwardlyopening seat accommodating the pin-like pivot section of said couplershank.

14. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided with a transverse opening therethrough, said openinghaving a curved front end wall, the rear wall of said opening beingdefined by a post-like member formed integral with the coupler shank; ofa pivot block engaged through said opening, said pivot block having acurved front bearing surface seated on said curved wall, and arearwardly opening bearing seat accommodating said post-like member. 1

15. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided with a transverse opening therethrough; of a U-shapedbutt block having rearwardly extending arms and a transverse front endsection connecting said arms, said connecting section extending throughsaid opening, the rear ends of said arms of the U-shaped butt blockpresenting abutment faces disposed rearwardly of the end of the shankproper of the coupler.

16. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided adjacent the rear end thereof with a transverse opening,

said opening being curved; of a U-shaped butt block having rearwardlyextending arms connected by a curved front end section, said curvedsection extending through the curved opening of the shank, and the armsof said U-shaped block projecting rearwardly of the coupler shankproper.

17. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided with a transverse opening adjacent the rear end, the rearwall of said opening being formed by a postlike section integral withsaid shank, and the front wall of said opening presenting a curvedbearing surface, said post-like section having curved bearing surface;of a butt block having spaced side arms and a transverse sectionconnecting the arms, said connecting section being disposed within theopening of the coupler shank and having a front bearing surface engagingthe curved front bearing wall of said opening, said spaced armsembracing the post-like section and extending rearwardly thereof, saidblock having curved bearing surface between said arms engaging with thecurved bearing surface of said postlike section. I

18. In a coupler connection, the combination with acoupler having ashank provided adjacent the rear end thereof with a transverse opening,said opening being curved; of a u-shaped butt block having rearwardlyextending arms connected by a curved front endsectiomsaid curved sectionextending through the curved opening of the shank, and the arms of saidU-shaped block projecting rearwardly of the coupler shank proper; and anabutment member overlying the opening between said arms of the block andsecured to the inner ends of said arms.

19. In a coupler connection, the combination with a coupler having ashank provided with a transverse opening 'therethrough; of a Ushapedbutt block having rearwardly extending arms and a transverse front endsection connecting said arms, said connecting section extending throughsaid opening; and an abutment plate secured to the rear endsof the armsof said U -shapedmeinher and spanning the opening between said arms,said abutment plate having a flat rear face adapted to cooperate withthe usual front follower of a railway draft 1" 20. In railway draft rigg, in combination, a coupler with a stem, the rearportion of which isformed as a curved bearing portion, a yoke, a key connecting said.coupler and yoke, a key piece engaging the rear edge of the key,presenting a rearwardly opening curved bearing .notch for engagementwith the curved bearing portion of the coupler and provided withportions extending rearwardly of the bearing portion on either sidethereof, and means associated with said extensions for retaining the keypiece in place.

21. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler With. a slottedstem, those portions of said stem rearwardly of said slot beingconnected by a curved bearing post, a yoke, a key extending through theslotted portion of the stem for connecting said coupler and yoke, a keypiece engaging the rear edge of the key and presenting a rearwardlyopening curved bearing notch for engagement with the bearing postportion of the coupler, a butt member formed with a forwardly openingcurved portion for engagement with the bearing post portion of thecoupler, and means holding said key piece and butt member assembled withrespect to the post portion independently of said key.

22. A coupler formed with a stem slotted for receiving a key, thoseportions of the stem rearwardly of the slot being connected by a bearingportion presenting front and rear convex cylindrical bearing surfaces,and a key piece adapted to engage the rear edge of an associated key,presenting a rearwardly opening curved bearing notch for engagement withthe front bearing surface, and provided with a rearwardly extending armlying on either side of said bearing portion for securing said key piecein position.

FRED G. SUCKOW.

